Location of hotel:
Plovdiv
Location Type
City
Location Description
Plovdiv is the second largest city in Bulgaria with population of over 380 000 people. It is situated in the middle part of Northern Thrace on the banks of Maritsa River, approximately 140km from the capitol Sofia. Its location is unique, in the foot of seven hills, which brought the nickname “The city of the hills” or “The city of the seven hills”.
As a town it starts to exist from 12th c.bc, when the Thracian established the town of Eumolpias, but before that there have been a settlement from 6000th year BC. According to the recent studies, Plovdiv is the oldest still active city in Europe and sixth oldest in the world by the same statistic, leaving behind city centers like Constantinople, Athens, Rome and Carthage. Plovdiv is almost contemporary of ancient Troy.
With its location Plovdiv is in the center of a crossroad, which connects Asia and Africa with Europe, as well as Northern and Western Europe with Southern and Eastern Europe. That makes it extremely important town, but also puts great political and cultural influence from the eastern and western civilizations on him. Since its foundation, the town was conquered many times. That cycle was started by Philip II of Macedon, who took over the town in 4th c. BC and called it “Philippopolis”, but later the Thracian had taken it back. Till the Renaissance the battles for the city have been vicious. First the Romans and the Thracians fought for it, later the Byzantines and the Bulgarians and finally the Ottomans intervene the dispute. The city had entered the borders of all those civilizations multiple times, till 1885, when after the unification of Bulgaria with Eastern Rumelia, the city permanently became part of Republic of Bulgaria. During the Roman period, the town that was called “Trimontium” (City of Three Hills) back then, reached great heights. At first c. it gained the status of a city and then later it became the largest and the main city in the province of Thrace, and served as a metropolis of it. The Romans led large building policy and built strong paved with stones streets, public buildings, treasure house, temples, baths, large-scale stadium, a distribution system and drainage, fortified walls and the symbol of the city the Ancient Theatre, where performances are still held. Nowadays the modern civilization interweaves with the antiquity in the foot of the Seven Hills, forming the city of Plovdiv, which is compound by new and old part. In the old part of Plovdiv or the “Old Town”, you have the opportunity to be a witness of the Bulgarian Renaissance, formed by the old houses and the small and steep streets, which are twisting on the three hills, on which lays. The hunger for knowledge can be satisfied by the Roman Antique Theatre, the Roman Odeon, the Roman Forum, and the Eirene Archeological complex, also by the Old Town of Plovdiv, the Archeological Museum, the Historical Museum, the Ethnographical Museum, the Museum of Natural History and the Aviation Museum.
For the art lovers I would say that Plovdiv is one of the biggest cultural centers on the Balkans with multiple festivals and exhibitions. The following fests are led every year: Easter Music Fest, International Fest of Chamber theatre “Black Box”, International Fest of Chamber music, the Days of the literature and the book “Plovdiv reads”, Antique Theatre’s Music Fest, International Symposium of Painting, International Folklore Fest, National Violinists Competition “Dobri Petkov”, International Children’s Ballet fest “With love to the dance”, International Film Fest “Europe is here”, International TV Fest “The Golden Chest” and many other festivals, fairs and exhibitions.
The combination of antique atmosphere, almost untouched by the time Renaissance’s part of the city and the incredibly beautiful nature in the surroundings are playing the role of main spices for a magic that will spell you in the minute you enter in Plovdiv.
For more information about this destination, please do not hesitate to contact us:
Phone: ![]() +359-(0)52-357176
Fax: +359-(0)52-355288
Email: info@holidayshop.bg
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